Mount Nittany Medical Center emergency department expansion completed

Mount Nittany Medical Center has completed Phase II of its newly renovated 56,000 square-foot emergency department, which is now fully open to the public.

Phase I of the new emergency department opened to the public in July of 2012. Phase II opened on April 23 of this year. Completing the emergency department in two phases allowed for continuous care of patients throughout the construction process.

“The emergency department is truly a community asset. Rather than just building a bigger facility to accommodate the growing number of emergency department patients in our area, we chose to build a better facility. Our new emergency department features an innovative design, new technologies and special amenities to offer the best care for our community,” said Theodore Ziff, MD, medical director of the emergency department.

The total emergency department expansion project includes 48 new private rooms with private restrooms, a dedicated sexual assault nurse examiner room, two trauma bays, a rooftop helicopter pad, consulting room, four private patient rooms designed for patients with behavioral health needs, Austin’s Playroom (a designated play and waiting area for children and their families), and a new MRI suite. In addition, the pod design of the new emergency department provides physicians and nurses with easy access and visual connection to each room, ensuring efficiencies in the care of patients.

In 2011, more than 50,000 patients received care at Mount Nittany Medical Center’s emergency department. Mount Nittany Health deemed the renovated and expanded facility a priority for the region.